Tune into WRTI on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. to hear Die Fledermaus, an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II. WRTI will carry a recording of the Vienna State Opera’s 2026 production as a part of the WFMT Opera Series.
Based upon a popular farce by Roderich Benedix, Die Fledermaus is a comedy of errors surrounding a New Year’s Eve ball. Gabriel von Eisenstein, sentenced to eight days in prison for striking an officer, holds off on serving so that he can attend the ball and flirt with the women there. Meanwhile, his wife Rosalinde is entertaining Alfred, an old lover. When the prison warden comes to collect Eisenstein, Alfred takes his place in order to protect Rosalinde’s reputation.
This production features tenor Jonas Kaufmann as Gabriel von Eisenstein, soprano Diana Damrau as Rosalinda, and baritone Jochen Schmeckenbecher as Frank. Mezzo-soprano Daria Sushkova is the Prinz Orlofsky; Jörg Schneider is Alfred; Adrian Eröd is Dr. Falke; Lukas Schmidt is Dr. Blind; Ilia Staple is Adele; Hannah-Theres Weigl is Ida; and Michael Niavarani is Frosch. Markus Poschner conducts the Vienna State Opera Orchestra & Chorus